ECHL Suspends Player for Fighting in Penalty Box

You can fight on the ice. If you do, though, you’ll end up in the penalty box.

You cannot, however, fight inthe penalty box.

Colorado Eagles defenseman Michael Sdao had his night come to an early end after an altercation with Utah Grizzlies forward Jon Puskar. Puskar had been sent off for cross-checking when he and Sdao – still on the ice – exchanged words. The words quickly turned to fists as Sdao charged Puskar.

Linesmen Lucas Bisbee and Dylan Peper rushed to the box to break up the altercation.

Sdao was hit with a fighting major and a game misconduct for Fighting Off the Playing Surface (Rule 46.8) by referee Korey Chipperfield:

A misconduct or game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player involved in fighting off the playing surface or with another player who is off the playing surface. These penalties are in addition to any other time penalties assessed, including the major penalty for fighting.

Sdao has been suspended as a result of the incident. From the ECHL:

Colorado’s Michael Sdao has been suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed amount as a result of his actions in ECHL Game #367, Utah at Colorado, on Dec. 23.

Sdao is fined and suspended under Rule #28 – Supplementary Discipline as a result of his actions at 15:05 of the second period.

Sdao will miss Colorado’s games at Alaska on Dec. 30, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.